"expert"
as used by the media

: : When the
media quotes someone they often introduce the expression with a phrase or two
that include the word "expert". I just read something of this sort on nytimes.com
[Dr. Somebody, an EXPERT, on Iran at the University says....bla.bla bla..]. How
does one come to be designated as an "expert".

: You get qualified as a pert
and then resign.

It's called Rolodex journalism. If your name is in their card
file and you are willing to talk on record, you are an expert. If you can string
two sentences together and look good on camera, you're golden.